Stiffening reenforcement for shirt neckbands



J. A. CURREA STIFFENING REENFORCEMENT FOR SHIRT NECKBANDS Oct 1% 1927.

Filed July 22, 1926 J A C'wr'rew.

Patented Oct, 18, 192-7. I 1,645,946

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. JOSEPH A. CURREA, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed July 22,

This invention relates to a stiffening reenforcement for application to the neckbands of shirts. In laundering soft shirts the neckband is not ordinarily starched to a degree of stiffness which will permit of a snug and. comfortable fitting of the collar about the neckband and the neckband will. crumple and the collarwill ride abovethe neckband, causing inconvenience to the wearer. Therefore, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a device which may be readily arranged within the neckband of a shirt and which will constitute a stiffening reenforcement serving to maintaint-he neckband in an uprightposition sothat the collar will fitsnugly and comfortably about the same and will not be liable to ride up upon the band;

Another object of the invention is to pro- "vide' a stiffening reenforcing'device for the purpose "stated which may be readily appliedby anyone to theneckband of a shirt by merely ripping the two short seams at opposite sides of the rear buttonhole and inserting the neckband. I,

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose stated so condevice between the plies of the 'structed "that it will not in any way'inter- 30 "ton for holding the collar in place upon the neckband of the shirt and will, in fact, serve the purpose of reenforcing the rear buttonfere with the employment of the usual but hole of the shirt so that the rearcollar button will be firmly held in place.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it may be conveniently inserted between the plies of the neck band in a few moments time and, when inserted, will maintain its proper position within the band and may either be removed for the purpose of laundering the shirt, or may be permitted to remain permanently in the neckband inasmuch as its construction and the material of which it is constructed issuch that it will not be affected in any way by laundering. 1 In the accompanying .drawingsr, Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the upper portion of a shirt and illustrating the device embodying the invention, a part of the neckband being broken away to illustrate the arrangement of the device therein. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the re enforcing device.

Figure detaii vertical sectienal view STIFFENING nnnnroncnivrnn'r non snrn'r NECKBANDS.

1926. Serial no. 124,227..

taken substantially on the line 3-3 of'Figure 1, looking in'the direction indicated by which is indicated by the numeral 1, comprises the'usual inner. and outer plies 2 and 3, the band being provided withtheusual front buttonholes 4 and therusual rear buttonhole 5 which is formed in the outerply 3. Ordinarily, two short-lines of stitching are formed in the plies of the neckband at opposite sides of the rear buttonhole 5 and in utilizing the device embodying the invention, these stitches will be removed, the neckband requiring no 'further alteration.

The device shown inFigures 1 to3 inclusive, com-prises two reenforcingmembers .6,

each of which is in the form of astrip of celluloid; or other relatively stiff and yet flexible material suitable for the purpose,

and the strips are preferably tapered as at "7, in the direction of theirfree ends, means being provided for connecting theirother ends. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to?) inclusive, the means providedfor connecting the ends of'the sections' 6, comprises a short *length of tape 8 which may be of cotton, linen, silk, or" any Figure 6.

to the neckband of a shirt and the'neckband,

other 'kindof cloth material found suitable for the purpose and the ends of this tape are stitched or otherwise united,-as at 9'; to the ends of the sections 6,and preferably to the outer sides thereof. The tape'S is formed 'with a buttonhole, which is indicatedby the numeral 10, and this butto'nhole is-preferably of the same length as the rear button hole 5 in the outer ply of the neckbajnd l.

In applying the device, the short'rows of stitching which have before been referredwto as being formed through the plies of the neckband at'o'pposite sides of the rear buttonhcle 5', are ri ed and removed, and the ends of the members 6 are inserted upwardly and laterally through the usual scalloped or cutaway portion 11 of the said outer ply of the neckband and slidably inserted between the plies until the device is completely housed with the neckband, the

tapered free ends ofthe members 6 being at such time positioned relatively close to the front buttonholes 4, and the connection 8 beirig so' located that the buttonhole 10 therein will register with the buttonhole 5 so that an ordinary collar button may be inserted through these buttonholes and be firmly supported in place. It will'be understood at this point that inasmuch as the connection :8 isa limp or flexible one, the two members 6 may be readily relatively displaced andmanipulated so as to provide for theirrea'dy insertion into the neckband, the flexibility of these members likewise adapting them to be readily fitted into place;: O'rd'inarily, it will be preferable to insert one of the members 6 and position thesame and'then flex the device at the connection 8 and insert the'other member 6. It

will be evident that the device embodying the invention will reenforce the neckband of the. shirt'by reason of the relative stiffness of the -members 6 and that the neckband will, therefore, maintain an upright position'z and be sufliciently stifi'to adapt the collar to be fitted about the same and worn without any likelihood of thecollar riding upwardly over the neckbanda It will also be observed by reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, that the strips comprising the members 6 are of a width to substantially fill the spacebetween the plies of the .neckband so that the band will be reenforced throughout its height.

In the modification shown in Figure 4 of the drawings,.the two sections of the device are'indicated by the numeral 12 and are of the same formas' the sections 6 previously described. The connection between the sections is indicated by the numeral 13'and corresponds to the connection 8 except that in this embodiment the collar button 14; is

riveted or otherwise secured at its base inserted into the band.

,In' the embodiment shown in Figure 5 of thedraivings, the sections comprising'the device are relatively ad ustable, it being understood that in the previously described embodiments the device may be made in comparatively few different sizes as one sizeiwillbe adapted to fit several sizes of 'neckba'nds; In the said Figure 5, the sections of the device are indicated by the numeral 15 and each section has secured to it, *as at 16, in any. suitable manner, a'loop 17, the sectionshaving their end portions overlapped with the end portion of one sec tion fitting .slidably in the loop upon the other section so that in this manner the sections are capable of relative adjustment to lengthen or shorten the device as a whole. The sections are formed between their connected ends and their loops 17, with longitudinal slots 18 which register and the collar button which is to be employed in the rear buttonhole '5 of the neckband'of the shirt is fitted through these slots and through the said buttonhole. It will be understood that in this embodiment, the device need be manufactured in one size only in order to adapt it for application to all sizes of neckbands.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the two sections of'the device, which are indicated by the numeral 19,;are connected end to end b a collar button 20-, which is riveted, frictionally fitted, or otherwise adapted to the sectionsto connect the same pivotally and serve its usual purpose. In this embodiment of the invention, the collar button 20, therefore, serves not only to permit of relative displacement of the two sections 19 of the device but also serves its usual purpose; I

Figure 7 of the drawings illustrates an embodiment in which a single strip of celluloid or other material is employed instead of forming thedevice in two sections as in the previously described embodiment, and

in this particular embodiment'ofthe 111-- vention, the reenforcing member is indicated by the numeral 21' and a collar button 22 is riveted or otherwise secured at its base in the said member midway between the free ends thereof. I

It will be observed by reference to the drawings that the members 6 are curved to more or less conform to the curvature of the nec'kband.

In carrying out the invention, the reenforcing members 6 will be cut to conform marginally to the contour of the shirt band and they will likewise be rolled or otherwise acted upon so as to possess the same curvature which. the neckband will assume when buttoned about the neck.

It will likewise be evident that the use of the appliance will materially prolong the life of the neckband of the shirt as it will be unnecessary to starch the said neckband.

,Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A reenforcement for shirt neckbands comprising strip-like members of relatively stiff material for insertion into the neckband and normally curved longitudinally to conform to the contour thereof, and means connecting the members for movement relative to' each other and adapted to carry a collar-engaging member.

2. A reenforcement for shirt neckbands comprising strip-like members of relatively stiff material for insertion into the neckband to sustain the same in upright position, said strip-like members being normally curved longitudinally to conform to the contour of the neckband, and a flexible oonnec-- tion between the said members adapted to carry a collar button.

3. A reenforcement for shirt neekbands comprising strip-like members of relatively stifl material for insertion into the neckband to sustain the same in upright position,

said strip-like members being normally curved longitudinally to conform to the contour of the neckband, and means confor connection with a collar.

4. A reenforcement for shirt neckbands comprising strip-like members of relatively stiff material for insertion into the neckband, the said members being normally curved to conform to the curvature of the neckband, and a flexible strip united at its ends to relatively adjacent, ends of the said members and provided with a buttonhole.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH A. GURREA; [n 8.] 

